Hold On

Contextual information

In January 2026 the people of Minneapolis inspired the rest of the country with what it looks like to really take care of one another in the face of escalating ICE raids and authoritarian violence. They walked kids to school, delivered food to neighbors, stood on street corners in rapid response. And they sang! I am humbled and moved that this song has been useful to them, and was picked up by people around the world to sing in solidarity.

A bit more about where "Hold On" comes from:

In January 2020, a beloved teen in a nearby town was lost to suicide and it hit the small northern Vermont community hard. That weekend a friend of mine, who was a parent at the high school, organized a gathering for folks to come together around the grieving family in this moment of unimaginable loss. He asked if I could lead a song at the gathering: offer a simple ritual of connection when we may not have any of the words yet. And so that morning I put up my song catching antennae and listened hard for a new song that could bring folks together — a song that could hold our grief, and also magnify our fortitude and collective hope to share with one another. I remember praying kinda hard for a song that could do this big job for a mixed crowd of rural Vermont teens and families, some in jeans, some in ski pants, most of whom probably didn’t want to sing. It was cold and folks were spread out, loosely circled around a bonfire in the parking lot, right in front of the high school entrance. I remember thinking, It’s our job to work some magic here that will make it possible for these students to stay alive and go back in that building. When it was my turn to lead the song I asked people if they could come closer so we could hear one another, and people shuffled in a bit. It was bitterly windy and hard to hear. I asked if people would come even closer. The song made it necessary for us to be together, and eventually we were shoulder to shoulder singing “Hold On” for Finn’s mom, and family, and friends, and for one another.

In January 2026 the people of Minneapolis inspired the rest of the country with what it looks like to really take care of one another in the face of escalating ICE raids and authoritarian violence. They walked kids to school, delivered food to neighbors, stood on street corners in rapid response. And they sang! I am humbled and moved that this song has been useful to them, and was picked up by people around the world to sing in solidarity.

A bit more about where "Hold On" comes from:

In January 2020, a beloved teen in a nearby town was lost to suicide and it hit the small northern Vermont community hard. That weekend a friend of mine, who was a parent at the high school, organized a gathering for folks to come together around the grieving family in this moment of unimaginable loss. He asked if I could lead a song at the gathering: offer a simple ritual of connection when we may not have any of the words yet. And so that morning I put up my song catching antennae and listened hard for a new song that could bring folks together — a song that could hold our grief, and also magnify our fortitude and collective hope to share with one another. I remember praying kinda hard for a song that could do this big job for a mixed crowd of rural Vermont teens and families, some in jeans, some in ski pants, most of whom probably didn’t want to sing. It was cold and folks were spread out, loosely circled around a bonfire in the parking lot, right in front of the high school entrance. I remember thinking, It’s our job to work some magic here that will make it possible for these students to stay alive and go back in that building. When it was my turn to lead the song I asked people if they could come closer so we could hear one another, and people shuffled in a bit. It was bitterly windy and hard to hear. I asked if people would come even closer. The song made it necessary for us to be together, and eventually we were shoulder to shoulder singing “Hold On” for Finn’s mom, and family, and friends, and for one another.

Composer Background information

Heidi Wilson (she/her) is passionate about sharing songs in service to community and the wild world; songs that celebrate the seasons, bring groups together, offer thanks, muster courage, and make room for healing. Heidi has been leading community singing groups in central Vermont and beyond since 2007, and performs with her trio Heartwood.

Learn more about Heidi: https://www.heidiannwilson.com/ and

https://www.patreon.com/heidiwilson

See Heartwood’s website for their current projects: https://www.heartwoodtrio.com/

Composer Website Link